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Anderson MEP slams ‘EU-US privacy Agreement.

Responding
to an article in the Irish Times (29/03/16) which warned of loss of trade in
the Digital Economy, if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) finds against mass
bulk data collection, Ms. Anderson stated:

“The
interests of the Digital Economy should not take precedence over the rights of
citizens as the sole focus in this instance. A citizen's fundamental right to
have their personal privacy protected should be the chief concern.

“The
stark fact is that; ‘The Privacy Shield Agreement’, proposed by the EU Commission,
is an insult to citizens across Europe, whose privacy rights would be further
eroded by this proposal.

“The
agreement includes no legally binding protections, but instead, merely proposes
the creation of an independent but powerless ombudsman, who would assess
citizens' complaints.

“As a
member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the
European Parliament, I find it highly improbable that an Ombudsman would have
sufficient powers to oversee US intelligence services.

“As
Republicans we know first-hand the destructive, malevolent and negative role
that Intelligence Agencies play. That is why it is imperative that strong and
meaningful legal protections are put in place, in order to ensure that all
citizens' personal data is legally protected.

"For
citizens' rights to be protected and for the digital economy to function
effectively, it is crucial that a robust and enforceable system be put in place
in order to protect all parties concerned.

“I will
continue to ensure such matters are prioritised and vocalised in my role as an
MEP on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. And we will
ensure that our TD’s highlight the implications of such an agreement for Irish
citizens in the Dáil.”